Liberty High band wins again, in rain Fistful of firsts at 15th Showcase

Despite having to perform in a cold, driving rain, the Liberty High Lions Pride Marching Band continued its Group III winning streak with a 91.5 score at the 15th annual Showcase of Bands sponsored by the Francis Scott Key High School Instrumental Music Boosters Saturday.

Liberty also won the Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Drum Major and Best Marching and Maneuvering specialty awards.

"The band did great," said Liberty band director Bryan Eber. "There was a problem with the footing because of the field and weather conditions, but we were prepared."

Mr. Eber said the Lions switched to blue pants instead of white and wore rain gear to stay as dry as possible until their performance.

The band went later in the day to perform at the Delone Catholic High School Squire Invitational in Pennsylvania. The misty weather there left that field as muddy as the one at the competition in Carroll.

In Pennsylvania, the Lions beat three Group III bands, winning Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Marching and Maneuvering, and finishing with a 92.95 overall score.

Opting not to perform at its other scheduled competition because of poor weather, the South Carroll High Cavaliers Marching Band placed second in Group III at Key with a score of 87.30.

"The Cedar Cliff Senior High School Tournament of Bands was rescheduled, but we won't be performing in it," said Brad Collins, South Carroll's band director.

Instead, the band will concentrate on doing well in Saturday's Chapter XIII Championships at South Carroll.

Band members are refusing to let the disappointment of placing second discourage them, Mr. Collins said.

"They're not down on themselves. Our kids are handling it well," he said. "We scored an 87.30 [at Key], far below what I felt we should have been scored, but that's the judges' call.

"I thought our kids did well, but that wasn't reflected in the scoring."

"We wish them the best of luck," Mr. Collins said of Liberty High as it enters the chapter competition. "We congratulate them. They seem to be having an outstanding season."

Only one other band competed in Group III at Key, the Spotsylvania (Pa.) High group, which placed third.

The Westminster High Owls Marching Band was scheduled to perform in Group IV at Key but withdrew because of the poor weather.

The FSK Eagles performed in exhibition at the end of the competition.

North Carroll's Panthers had no competition last weekend because of homecoming.

All five Carroll high schools are scheduled to perform at the Chapter XIII competitions Saturday.